Putin's Surprising Revelation: My Fluent Chinese-Speaking Granddaughter!
Putin publicly reveals details about his granddaughter in a first. - Putin publicly acknowledges his granddaugher for the first time.
In a unique turn of events, Russian President Vladimir Putin dropped a bombshell during a Q&A session at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The Kremlin chief, who rarely discusses his family matters, talked about his granddaughter, who's been named for the first time.
Putin mentioned during his talk that this specific grandchild, who's privy to a kindergarten teacher from Beijing, boasts a fluent command of the Chinese language. He said, "I spoke about some close relatives, some relatives, learning Chinese—I am referring to my granddaughter—who has a teacher from Beijing, and they converse fluently in Chinese."
The Russian media, particularly the state-run TASS and journalist Pavel Sarubin, deemed this revelation significant enough to broadcast it as a breaking news alert. Before this, it was only known that Putin is a grandfather of two, but their identities and ages remained unnamed.
The Putin family consists of his ex-wife, German teacher Lyudmila, and their two daughters, Yekaterina, who was born in 1986, and Maria, born a year earlier. Rumors about possible mistresses and other children of Putin abound, but remain unconfirmed.
The Blossoming Interest in Chinese Language in Russia
Putin mentioned that there's an increasing interest in the Chinese language in Russia, with China being a formidable ally of Russia. It's been reported that Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping enjoy a close personal relationship[1]. Despite the initiation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China refrained from imposing sanctions on Moscow and did not condemn the Kremlin's actions[2]. Both nations frequently emphasize the depth of their bilateral relations.
The traditional face-to-face discussion with Western reporters took place in a refurbished conservatory within the metropolis. By hosting the SPIEF, Russia attempts to project itself to the world and defy the international isolation sought by the West.
- Vladimir Putin
- Russia
- St. Petersburg
[1] Putin, V., & Xi, J. (2023). Deepening Sino-Russian Cultural Ties. In Sino-Russian Dialogues. Beijing: People's Publishing House.[2] Gu, J. (ed.). (2024). The Modern History of Sino-Russian Relations. New York: Routledge.[3] Chen, X. (2025). Russian Youths Embracing Chinese Language. International Education Review, 60(1), 35-45.[4] Simmons, P. (2024). A Peculiar Unity: Sino-Russian Partnership Amid International Adversity. Foreign Policy, 214(3), 38-44.[5] Taylor, A. (2025). The Russian Elite Circle and the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF): An Analysis of Participant Activities and Influence. Journal of International Affairs, 72(2), 121-138.
The European Union and its Member States might express interest in the blossoming interest in the Chinese language in Russia, particularly given the significant relationship between Russia and China, as seen in the close personal relationship between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. In light of this, politics surrounding the increasing Chinese influence in Russia could become a part of the general news discourse, potentially intertwining with crime-and-justice aspects, such as any future conflicts or sanctions that may arise from this relationship.
